Descending Into Darkness

This bike was the third chopper created by Rat Patrol Oz. Secretly I took it away and sprayed it pink before anyone could say anything. The revolutionary larger-sized front wheel ensures the pilot is capable of high speeds. These are slightly inhibited by the knees smashing into the handlebars though. But chicks dig symmetrical bruises. I was eventually to get pissed off with it and add lots of other things to it that improved its handling such as an extended bottom bracket and huge reinforcing once the front forks started to bend. Later on came a banana seat. I piloted DID to two victories in a row at the first BBQ bike-attended race-around-the-Carillion. I have spewed while riding it without stopping. I have outmanouvered a V8 farkstick trying to run me down when leaving Tropfest. I nearly came off at 60km/h at the bottom of Wattle Street when a swooping magpie got me. The bike got its name because the front wheel was white, frame pink, and rear tyre black. This indicated descending from light to darkness. The rear rim used to be brown (prior to it perishing completely) and due to this I was named Loose Brown during the naming ceremony. I got off lightly.

Whelf

Bike Name: Whelf

Builder: Nancy Porker

Type: Chopper

Pic: Whelf at the Art of Moving Launch last week - pic by Tim Raupach (http://cutflat.net)

History: This was the second chopper in the Rat Patrol Oz fleet. Learning that seat to crank distance is important for a comfy enduro ride, a ladies bike with high seat post, low top tube was selected. This frame also allowed for a considerable rake angle for the longest possible forks with minimal mods. Later additions have included front fork reinforcement, bling wheels, non-functioning speedo (knowing one's speed is irrelevant on a chopper), and christmas lights :)

What's in a Name?: Short for Wheelchair Friendly as I discovered she did not like going up gutters on one of her early rides, when I took a good spill, lost a bit of bark, and considerably bent the front forks.

The Ride: Most people can't ride it to begin with, getting twitched off thanks to the "power steering". This is probably to do with the bars being tilted a long way forward and being so freakin big! Relaxation is the key (as with most bikes). Once mastered she's a dream to carve down the street. Small movements of weight and turn of the bars relate to big movements underneath you. So provided you relax, you can make huge turns whilst your body stays seemingly motionless.

Most Memorable Ride: Probably carving through the traffic, people and madness on the Summerats ride. But any ride you can test your precision riding is great with this bike.

Rat FLOATilla 2007, so it was...

Yes, what a weekend!

It had all the essential ingredients: masses of good peeps, boats, amphibious bikes, bike events, Water Police, laughing, crying, great food, dancing, private island camping, music and... beer. There was lots of beer!!!

For those of you who are thinking "what th fark?!?!", here are some pics :)












The Three Stooges head to the island, plied by single malt whiskey...







SS MItze. Our probable-world-first tall amphibious couch trike: a crazy idea of Nancy Porker's that should never have been attempted; engineered and fabricated into the real world by Limp Jimmy, with MUCH help when it counted from Nancy, also assisted at great personal expense by Sam (maker of his new outrigger, the Sea Turtle), Angel Ironhead, and Dr Splat...

Oh, and I how could I forget to mention Secret Squirrel?!?!?!? 2humps and Victor 2stroke FULLY made this thing happen! THEY were the ones who accepted the challenge of coming up with a water propulsion system which satisfied a stringent design brief, on time and well under budget!!!! You guys fully came thru!!!

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED-OUT!! Without youz, this thing would not have been there on FLOATilla day!

Thank fuk this project is more or less over! ~whew~

It started as a crazy dream...

Get yer Greens - BRING THE FLOATILLA!

You'd wanna hope yer ratty aqua bike is up for the challenge. The lake is at it's festy best! "Unsafe Algae Levels" abound! Hahahaah! I can taste it now! But i know you rats don't get enough greens anyway, so bring the balance! That's our island top right. This photo taken from our mainland launch ramp a couple of days ago.

Everything is looking sweeeeet for Saturday. An armada will depart the Flying Pigsty at midday sharp (get there anytime from 11am). The FESTivities will commence at the Acton Ferry Terminal (the paddle boat hire place) at 1pm where there'll be some dogfighting and footdown before moving west round the lake to the tallbike jousting arena!

Following jousting will be Spirit Level Slalom downhill madness. You must bring the spirit of your choice if you want to race - and this is certainly a race for everyone. A hip flask should suffice for the race, but why not just bring a whole bottle to keep you warm for the rest of the evening?!?!

After that it's off to the island!!!!! Hitch a ride on a trash boat, amphibious couch bike (!!) or passing tinnie. Or swim the algae rich waters of Lake Burley Chunder! Don't forget your floaties! They are your ticket to ride. Serious.

Marky B will be spinning choons, and there'll be movies going most of the night on the island. At some point there will be a race around the island and flaming pixie bike jetty jumping!

See you Saturday. Don't forget yer floaties!

Time to pay up Small Boat Alert!

I felt a humbing connection to Rat Patrol Chicago's "Homewrecker" amphibious vehicle, as Rat Time struck again, and meant I was ridiculously late for the wonderful feast put on by Scujette and my family for my birthday.

Nonetheless the couch performed totally without fault both on and off the water, much to the surprise of the Austrian and Swiss backpackers who happened to be parked at the Acton Ferry Terminal (and pictured below).



And what's more - Two Stroke pulled out his 3 beer aqua bike and made us look riduclous with our 3 month effort! Nice work Two Stroke!

Bring on the floatilla!